Last week, I criticized regional staff’s recommendation of painted on-street bike lanes in the planned reconstruction of Universty Avenue between Erb Street and Keats Way. The matter was about to go before the Planning and Works committee for approval.

Here is the road cross-section the report recommended:

I attended the P&W Committee meeting to delegate on behalf of TriTAG, a transportation advocacy organization for more balanced and efficient transport in our region. My main points were:
– The notion that off-street bicycle paths would disrupt the continuity of cycling along the corridor is factually incorrect.
– A fully off-street (i.e. in-boulevard) bicycle path would have neither of the disadvantages staff used to dismiss cycle tracks: it would not be any more expensive than on-street lanes, and it would actually be easier to effectively maintain in winter.

The full text of my delegation is included at the bottom of this post.

On Monday May 25, Waterloo city council unanimously approved the preferred option for the Uptown Streetscape between Central Street and the LRT tracks – which includes separated bicycle lanes. Over 70 people showed up to ride King Street to city hall prior to … Continue reading Next Steps for the Uptown Streetscape Project

To be honest, I’m so excited. I never thought in my wildest dreams we’d have any chance of protected bicycle lanes on King Street in Waterloo. It’s been an amazing journey (that started with this post and also this petition)! In addition to the amazing 1000 folks who took the time to sign the petition for protected bike lanes: three people come to mind who helped spark the change to get protected bike lanes in the recommended design, because when this was first tabled, protected bike lanes weren’t part of the conversation. The first is Marie Snyder who blogs over at … Continue reading Preparations for tonight’s Uptown Streetscape Vote

Joint release by WaterlooBikes.ca and TriTag.ca: COMMUNITY MEMBERS APPLAUD UPTOWN PROTECTED BIKE LANE PROPOSAL Recommended Uptown streetscape design includes wider sidewalks and protected bike lanes on King Street from Erb to Central. WATERLOO, ON – May 7, 2015. Residents are celebrating a staff recommendation for protected bike lanes on King Street in Uptown Waterloo. The recommended design, if approved by Waterloo City Council, would see the installation of wider sidewalks and raised bicycle lanes, some protected from traffic by parked cars, along King Street from Erb to Central. “These are the types of lanes you find in places like the Netherlands, … Continue reading COMMUNITY MEMBERS APPLAUD UPTOWN PROTECTED BIKE LANE PROPOSAL

Just got word that on May 25th Waterloo City Council will be presented with the Environmental Study Report (ESR), recommending that Council approve the preferred option for segregated bicycle lanes, wider sidewalks etc!! The report will be available on the City’s website the week of May 11th. This has been a long time coming since our first post and start of our petition back in November of 2013! If you can, mark May 25th in your calendar to show support for the proposal, a better option for all people who use King Street! Continue reading Uptown Streetscape Update – Vote going to Council May 25 2015